Lost Debate

The Branch

Lost Debate is a weekly podcast from The Branch that brings you news, ideas, and arguments from around the political spectrum. We engage in the good-faith discussions that too much of our society and media miss. It's hosted by Ravi Gupta, a former Obama staffer turned school principal. read less
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Episodes

Grading the DNC, Kamala's Risks, YIMBY, Billionaire City
23-08-2024
Grading the DNC, Kamala's Risks, YIMBY, Billionaire City
Ravi kicks off the show by reflecting on the final day of the DNC convention, how the past four days could impact Democrats’ chances against Trump in November, and the implications of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pending withdrawal from the race. Ravi then welcomes New York Times housing reporter Conor Dougherty to the show to discuss the current state of the housing crisis, how political dynamics influence progress, and why Obama may have decided to use his speech at the DNC to advocate for reform within the outdated housing market. Finally, Ravi and Conor delve into Silicon Valley billionaires’ efforts to create a new city in California. Time Stamps: Grading the DNC - 0:01 Kamala's Risks - 6:14 YIMBY - 9:00 Billionaire City - 27:15 Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
Collective Illusions And The Hidden Education Consensus
15-08-2024
Collective Illusions And The Hidden Education Consensus
Ravi welcomes Todd Rose, co-founder and CEO of Populace, back to the podcast to discuss the current political climate, from the topics most Americans care about that no presidential campaign has addressed to the state of the Israel-Hamas war and its influence on the 2024 election. Ravi and Todd then react to Columbia President Minouche Shafik’s decision to resign and the need for universities to rethink their approach to identity politics and meritocracy. Finally, they take a closer look at emerging models of K-12 education, the potential of Education Savings Accounts, and what it means to create individualized learning experiences for students. Subscribe to Ravi’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RadioRaviG Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Subscribe to Ravi’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@RadioRaviG Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
Trump + Musk, Vance’s Rebound, Biden Reckoning
13-08-2024
Trump + Musk, Vance’s Rebound, Biden Reckoning
Ravi welcomes Tyler Austin Harper, contributing writer at The Atlantic and assistant professor at Bates College, to the podcast to discuss the 2024 presidential race. They cover everything from the continuing series of identity-based fundraisers like White Dudes for Harris and the need for the Harris-Walz campaign to define their policy positions to whether there’s truth in JD Vance’s claims that Democrats are anti-family. They also discuss the need for the Trump-Vance campaign to stay on message and why Trump could not do so during his conversation with Elon Musk on X Spaces. Finally, it’s been just over three weeks since Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race. Ravi and Tyler reflect on his decision, how the Biden team addressed concerns about his health and mental fitness, and why the public deserves an investigation into any cover-up of his alleged decline. Time Stamps: [1:25] Trump + Musk [12:05] Vance’s Rebound [35:09] Biden Reckoning Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to Ravi’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RadioRaviG Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
Trump's Bad Day, Vance v. Walz, Israel/Gaza War
08-08-2024
Trump's Bad Day, Vance v. Walz, Israel/Gaza War
Ravi kicks off the show by tackling Trump’s Mar-A-Lago press conference and Joe Rogan's endorsement of RFK Jr. Next, Ravi welcomes Isaac Saul from Tangle and Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a senior fellow at The Atlantic and a U.S. citizen from Gaza, to discuss the current state of the presidential race. They debate Kamala Harris's choice of Tim Walz as her running mate, examine the pro-Palestinian movement’s reaction, and explore why Harris did not choose Josh Shapiro. Finally, Ravi, Ahmed, and Isaac turn to the escalations in the Gaza War since Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran. They look at how Hezbollah may respond to recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon, and discuss Hamas’s decision to appoint Yahya Sinwar—the architect of the October 7th attacks—as its new leader and how it could impact the chances of achieving a ceasefire and a long-term resolution. Time Stamps: [00:50] Trump's Bad Day [10:33] Vance v. Walz [41:13] Israel/Gaza War Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
Who is Tim Walz?
06-08-2024
Who is Tim Walz?
Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. A veteran, former teacher, and seasoned lawmaker, Walz spent a decade in Congress before becoming governor. He gained national attention on “Morning Joe” after he called Donald Trump and JD Vance “weird.” Ravi dives into everything you need to know about Tim Walz, from his childhood in Nebraska to his political record. Ravi also takes a closer look at the reasons Harris picked Walz to join her on the Democratic ticket, why she passed on candidates like Josh Shapiro, and how her decision could impact the election. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
A Kamala Skeptic Makes Her Case
02-08-2024
A Kamala Skeptic Makes Her Case
Ravi welcomes New York Times Op-Ed columnist Pamela Paul to the show to discuss her skepticism about Vice President Kamala Harris as a candidate and the way in which Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee. Ravi and Pamela explore what Harris needs to do to start making her case to voters, from the importance of a new vision for K-12 education to how voters crave authenticity in today's politics. They also discuss Pamela’s recent piece, 'The Republican Party’s Elite Conundrum,' which examines how Ivy League graduates lead the Republican Party but downplay any whiff of intellectualism. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
Advice for Harris/Trump, Sal Khan on AI and Reimagining Learning
01-08-2024
Advice for Harris/Trump, Sal Khan on AI and Reimagining Learning
Why has the Trump campaign struggled to adapt to the new realities of the presidential race? Ravi breaks down how Biden’s departure has impacted the way the election is framed, why voters may be more likely to view Vice President Harris as the change candidate, and what both campaigns need to prioritize to appeal to moderate voters. Then, Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, joins the show to discuss his new book, Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing). Ravi and Sal dive into the ways AI can change the way we learn, how AI platforms like Khanmigo have already enhanced school models like homeschooling by providing comprehensive curricula, and why artificial intelligence will support teachers, not replace them. Time Stamps: [0:01] Advice for Harris/Trump [21:13] Sal Khan on AI and Reimagining Learning Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
Biden Rising, Trump Confidence, Education Revolution
25-06-2024
Biden Rising, Trump Confidence, Education Revolution
President Biden and former President Trump will face off in the first 2024 presidential debate later this week. Ravi takes stock of where both candidates stand heading into the debate, from their status in the polls and different approaches to fundraising to why TikTok videos about Trump receive more positive engagement than videos that mention Biden. Then, Ravi welcomes Derrell Bradford, president of 50CAN, to discuss the future of education and what we can learn from the evolution of education reform. They explore how the country went from a bipartisan consensus around No Child Left Behind to a backlash against high standards and accountability, growing fissures within education reform, and what it really means for a school to engage in activism. Finally, Ravi and Derrell turn to the future and the growing movement around new school models, including hybrid schools, microschools, and homeschooling. They discuss how Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) might impact this growth, what’s driving families to new school models, the reluctance of many Democrats to join the conversation, and why this is such a revolutionary moment in education. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
Debate Expectations, Fraudulent News, Costly Daycare, State Elections
20-06-2024
Debate Expectations, Fraudulent News, Costly Daycare, State Elections
The first presidential debate is around the corner. Ravi takes stock of the ways the Biden and Trump teams have approached debate preparation, explains how both camps have worked to shape the narrative leading up to the debate, and whether the candidates’ performance could impact the state of the election. He then turns to external forces in the election and explores a new piece from Julia Ioffe in Puck, which details Russia’s incompetent and sloppy efforts to influence this election cycle. Then, Reason producer Justin Zuckerman joins to share his recent reporting on the high cost of daycare in Washington, D.C., and the impact of overregulation on various industries. Ravi and Justin tackle the counterproductive regulations that have contributed to Washington’s childcare crisis, including minimum wage requirements, credentialing qualifications, staff-to-student ratios, and the impact of universal pre-K. Finally, Ravi interviews Liz Crampton, state policy reporter at Politico, about the unprecedented spending in state legislative races and how local elections could influence upper ballot races. They also discuss the repercussions of the recent primary elections in Texas, where Governor Abbott took revenge against his fellow Republican colleagues after they opposed his school voucher legislation. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Follow The Branch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebranchmedia/ Follow The Branch on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebranchmedia Follow The Branch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebranchmedia The Branch website: http://thebranchmedia.org/ The Branch channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-branch/id6483055204  Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTERJNTc1ODE3Mzk3Nw  iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate